Ah yes!! We are just about 13 hours before the tip-off of the NCAA Tournament beginning with BYU and Florida in the 7-10 matchup. Like last year, and the 25+ years before that, March Madness has definitely been the one of the best, if not the best, sporting event on earth. There is intrigue in every region of the country. Every ball player I know or fan of sports in general, lives to watch the NCAA Tournament. And for some reason, I believe that this Tournament will add some flare for several reasons:

1. Loaded Midwest Region: With Kansas being the No. 1 overall seed, they were not given any favors because of it. They are really going to earn their way to Nap Town with the potential lineups that await them. With the variety of great coaches (Tom Izzo, Gary Williams, JT III, and Thad Matta) and great players (G. V. of Maryland, James Anderson, Greg Monroe, Adam Koch, and Evan Turner). This will be a region to keep an eye on, and to see if the Kansas can survive it.

2. The different Non-power conference matchup in the first round: I don't know if this was purposely done but the committee is subtly killing non-Big 6 teams' chance of getting pass the second round. UTEP-Butler, Cornell-Temple, UNLV-Northern Iowa, and Richmond-St. Mary's come to mind. Essentially, four teams of those teams will be elimminated by Saturday. That's crazy! It will be interesting to see how many Sweet Sixteen teams come out of this group, if any at all.

3. Big East Repeat or Big 12 Beginning?: Last year we saw half of the Final Four and half of the Elite Eight teams to be from the Big East. That's really good depth. However, like the Big East, the Big 12 have a chance to play deja vu this year as well. Kansas, Kansas St., Baylor, and even Texas A&M can try to repeat what the Big East has done a year ago. Georgetown, West Virginia, Villanova, and Syracuse form nice depth from the Big East in NCAA Tourney as well.

Although, some of teams that I really love and follow like UConn, UCLA, and Illinois aren't in the Tournament, I am won't be a buzz kill. I still want to see some good basketball, and they just didn't cut it this year. However, I am still excited to see how things will unfold. Will the young Wildcats make it to the Final Four? Will Duke restore itself as Final Four threat again? Will Sherron Collins end his career with two national titles? Will Purdue even get out of the first round?! These questions and so many more will be answered in a few short weeks.

And this is evidence enough to suggest that the NCAA Tournament is fine the way it is, and if we want it to be something way less than what it is currently, than by all means expand the tournament. Money isn't everything; don't believe me, just see the ratings of the NCAA Tournament this weekend. And you will see why we don't need it!

I've been waiting to say this for a while. I've been hearing all the negativity, the reasons, excuses why Kobe Bryant would never win a NBA Championship. The sole reason that he won his previous championships was because he was with Shaquille O'Neal. He could never lead his team to a championship because he was too selfish, and his ego would just compromise the team. Not a true team player, and just out for his own glory.

Nevertheless, the critics you need to sit back and just live with the fact that Kobe Bryant just proved all of you wrong. He showed that he does not need one person around him to win, but a great supporting cast. He did what he needed to do to win. Whether it was communicating with them on the court or in the huddle, or making clutch shots and nice plays in a tight game, KB lead his team in many ways and they responded well.

They said Kobe couldn't make other players around him better. Well I would like to know who knew that Trevor Ariza would grow to become such a considerable part of the Lakers success this seaon. Oh, he was practicing against Kobe everyday for a year and a half. Pau Gasol played with more aggression and intensity this season, with a full season with Kobe, and even Lamar Odom rose his level of play to another level. I believe that with another season younger players like Jordan Farmar, Andrew Bynum, and Shannon Brown their play will be better because of Bryant's presence on the court.

This title speaks volumes of Kobe's character. He showed, in stellar fashion, that he could effectively lead his team to the NBA Title, and that you do not need a Shaq to win one. Period. Even though I hate the Lakers with a passion, Kobe is the man and will be the best player in the league heading into next year, and he will have his team poised to repeat!

So all the naysayers, haters, and critics of Kobe Bryant; your job is no more, your purpose has been served. Because any additional accolades and achievements that Bryant reaches will just be another kick in the groin to you because you people done nothing but spit venom towards the best basketball player in the world today. Now go find another victum because Kobe has risen to a level that you will never get to see!

We are now under 12 hours remaining before the NCAA Tournament starts. This is by far one of the most amazing, drama-filled sports event throughout the enitre year. This is only sport where uncertaincy and unpredictability is okay, and where the underdog thrives. Although last year we saw ALL No.1 Seeds make it to San Antonio, we still saw fireworks in the first round of the tournament.

This year, expect more intrigue, drama, and unexpectedness that will leave you wanting for more. Will Ty Lawson and his toe doom the North Carolina Tar Heels? Will the Connecticut Huskies end the post-season drought and make a serious run (Emphatic Yes!)? Will John Calipari redeem himself by making an even better in the tournamnet? Will VCU and Eric Maynor dispatch another elite program? Will the Big East live up to such a high standard? Will Duke end the the first weekend curse? Will Arizona justify their 25th NCAA Tourney appearance?

There are so many different angles to look at the amazement that is March Madness. Each one is not more important than any one, but they are each equally fun to watch and follow throughout the Tournament which makes it even more entertaining and special. It makes you want yo keep watching just see what might happen!

Opening Day is cool, Super Bowl Sunday is great, I even love the NBA Finals! But none of these compare to the Madness that happens in March. I hope all college basketball fanatics enjoy this time of year because comes once every year, and you should cherish such a momentous occasion!

As we move into the holiday season, this weekend is loaded for all kinds of fans. You had a Saturday filled with premium college hoops that had the atmosphere of an NCAA Tournament in March, you have a Sunday where there are divisional crowns, first-round byes are at stake in the NFL, and not to mention that college football started its beginning of the bowl season! Its enough to keep you looking for batteries because you have use the remote too much! It is truly a time where as a sports fan the Holidays are a blessing!

Nevertheless, although sports are a viable aspect of American culture, specifically within this time of the year, it is not the most important. This time of season, is for those to look within themselves to help those that are around them feel a little more positive, happier, and feel brighter. It is a time where we all should look towards lending a helping hand towards other, to help make their lives a little more meaningful. Whether that's preparing a meal for someone who is hungry, giving gifts to someone that you don't know, or just being a merrier person when interacting with people.

There's nothing wrong with watching the Rose Bowl, the Titans and Steelers, Connecticut and Gonzaga, or seeing whether Manny Ramirez or Mark Teixiera has been traded for ridiculous amounts of money. But remember to help someone in having a brighter holiday season!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

As I look around the sports world today, specifically in baseball, I am constantly blown away. In current economic times where people can't afford health care coverage, or can't pay off their mortgages, people are daily fighting an uphill battle to prepare themselves for the fiscal future that is come.

However, during this same time, I marvel at the free agent period within the MLB Off-season. Thanksgiving has not even arrived yet, but general managers around the league are acting like Santa Clauses with the way they have been throwing these hefty contract offers to the top free agents.

In particular, Manny Ramirez, Mark Teixeira, and CC Sabathia. These three superstars alone contradict the fact that America is regressing while they are collecting on their not so small fortunes. For these guys, negotiations start at over 9 figures! That number leaves me speechless, and the fact that the Yankees, Angels, Dodgers, and even the Cubs would love to be those that provides them the financial security is a testament to priorities in America.

Its not to say that those three and other free agents don't command that much or are not worth that much, still when will it end if there is not a salary cap or limit put in place? Professional athletes can just use that leverage to the point that it gets utterly out of control. As a matter of fact, we are right on the edge of that point just waiting to be pushed over!
1LUV

For the past couple of years the Chicago sports have been up and down as a whole. Although there was some slight success in baseball this year, however the fan base of Chicago is not to optimistic about these sports these days. For example, as a true die-hard Cubs fan, how can I remain such with the way they got taken to woodshed by the Los Angeles Dodgers. And the fact that there seems to be more Milwaukee Brewers fans in the area now is beyond me. In addition to that, how does a NBA team make it to the second round of the playoffs last year, and just mail it in the next year? That can just break all hope.

Nevertheless, thanks to names like Carlos Quentin, Giovanni Soto, Derrick Rose, Rich Harden, Jermaine Dye, Devon Hester, Matt Forte, and Jim Hendrix (No Mark Cuban, Yes!) there is a ray of hope for us the Chicago franchises and their unyielding supportive fan base. Despite the beginning of 2008 campaign, I think that by this time next year, Chicago will be one of the best, if not the best, sports town in all of the America for years to come!